A FINAL plea by the Hammersmith Society to delay a decision on a major new office block in the town centre looks set to fall on deaf ears.

The campaign group have fiercely objected to plans to build two high-scale buildings on the NCP car park, on junction of Hammersmith Grove and Beardon Road.

Two towers, eleven storeys and nine storeys high, will house offices, four restaurants and a new landscaped public courtyard.

Submitted by Development Securities PLC in August, the plans originally included rehousing the Shepherd’s Bush Library into the site.

But it was opened in Westfield instead and the company have since shelved plans for a community space in the complex.

That has infuriated the Hammersmith Society who are desperate for new community spaces to open in the borough.

Melanie Whitlock, chairman of the society, said: "Now that Hammersmith and Fulham Council has decided to retain the library in its current, original building, the community space offer has disappeared altogether.

"It is deplorable that this has been allowed to happen. Community space is fast disappearing in the area.

"The decision was made by the council to sell the Shepherds Bush Village Hall, among other community facilities, which hosts some 30 different community activities a week.

"There is therefore proven need for such a facility. The application should be delayed until this

can be included."

Brackenbury Residents Association have described the proposed building as an 'an inarticulate mass of commercial accomodation' in their objections while Hammersmith Grove Neighbour's Group said it will be a '24/7 building with 24/7 problems of traffic, people and parking'.

The Metropolitan Police have raised fears about interference with their radio systems and requested CCTV be installed and an extra town centre camera be funded near Hammersmith & City Line station.

But plans to redevelop the 300-space car park are recommended to get the green light at H&F Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Development Securities PLC are set to be hit with 40 planning conditions to meet which include it having to be fully built within three years and providing a minimum of 257 bicycle spaces to encourage workers to ditch their cars.

No customers are to be allowed at restaurants between midnight and 7.30am and no deliveries allowed between 10pm and 7am.

A H&F council report says: "The proposal would result in the redevelopment of a long-standing under-utilised site within the town centre.

"The use of the site as an office-led mixed use development including four restaurant units is considered to be acceptable in the context of the land use policies for the site and area.

"The proposal would be of a high standard of design and consistent with the scale and height of buildings in the town centre office quarter.

"The current site is surrounded by hoardings and does not contribute positively to the appearance and vitality of the town centre.

"The site has been vacant of buildings for many years, despite the council's aspirations for development."